AdvisorLink
Program
FTC VN's Advisor Teams and Advisors provide support, education, guidance, and motivation to numerous
students involved in the FIRST® Tech Challenge in Vietnam.
Volunteer Advisor Teams or Individuals are matched with students in various regions of Vietnam, where
young individuals often lack sufficient resources to pursue extensive STEM education.
These Advisors utilize their expertise and passion for STEM to not only enhance opportunities for
participants in the FIRST® Tech Challenge but also to inspire them to become future pioneers in the field,
following in the footsteps of renowned figures like Albert Einstein, Mae Jemison, and Stephen Hawking.
What do advisors do?
Volunteers in this program play a vital role in advising and mentoring FIRST® Tech Challenge Vietnam teams
virtually. Whether as an Advisor Team or an individual Advisor, volunteers form a partnership with a team
in Vietnam and work together on a weekly basis to prepare for the FIRST® Global Challenge. Most
communication occurs through messaging platforms like Messenger, Google Meet, or WhatsApp, with teams
typically meeting at least once a week. It is not mandatory for Advisors to visit the location or purchase
an official FTC robotics kit, although they can choose to do so through REV Robotics.
As an Advisor or part of an Advisor Team, your primary responsibility is to guide your assigned team
through the robot build process, rather than building the robot for them. Mentorship may extend beyond
technical assistance, as some teams require support in areas such as marketing, fundraising, community
outreach, award preparation, team organization, and other non-technical aspects.
While preferences to work with specific teams are considered, the program prioritizes meeting the overall
needs of each team. Some FTC VN teams may not require assistance, particularly if they already have
robotics experience. The participating teams in this program often have limited or no prior experience
with FIRST® programs. Language proficiency is also taken into account when assigning an Advisor Team. We
strongly encourage teams fluent in Vietnamese or English to apply!
Requirements:
Advisors and Advisor Teams are expected to dedicate several hours per week to be accessible to the team(s)
they are paired with. The mentoring time can be spread out over the week or concentrated on a specific day.
Typically, teams engage in a video call initially and maintain communication through messaging platforms for
the rest of the week. Additionally, a brief weekly progress report is necessary for us to oversee your
advisory.
Once your application is received, you will receive further updates and team-matching by email from the FTC
VN team. Please officially register yourself or your team by filling out the form here.
These are requirements needed for application:
- Must have access to a computer and reliable internet service
- Must be available for a minimum of two hours per week (the more, the better).
- Must commit to being an advisor through the end of the build period.
- Must have experience with or a passion for robotics, engineering, programing, or electronics.
- A passion for spreading knowledge and connecting with people all over the world.
- English language skills are a plus, but not required.
Prefered experience/qualification in at least one of the following areas:
- Basic mechanical engineering experience (particularly with robotic kit assembly systems).
- Proficiency in programming with Java (particularly within Android Studios) or other image-based programming systems (such as Google Blockly).
- Familiarity with Arduino boards and the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for programming.
All questions about becoming an advisor volunteer may be sent to robotics@fe.du.vn.
